’Each evening I had my short sermonet, and we sought to deepen the impressions made evidently upon our scholars by whatever could make it a real matter of life and death to them and us.  Then came Good Friday and Easter Eve, during which the Melanesians with Mr. Brooke were busily engaged in decorating the Chapel with fronds of tree-ferns, bamboo, arums, and oleander blossoms.

’Then, at 7 A.M. on Easter Morning, thirty of us—­twenty-one, thank God, being Melanesians—­met in Chapel for the true Easter Feast.

’Then, at 11 A.M., how we chanted Psalms ii, cxiii, cxiv, and Hymn, and the old Easter Hallelujah hymn to the old tune with Mota words.  Then at 7 P.M.  Psalms cxviii, cxlviii, to joyful chants, and singing Easter and other hymns.

’So yesterday and so to-day.  The short Communion Service in the morning with hymn, and in the evening we chant Psalm cxviii, and sing out our Easter hymn.  Ah well! it makes my heart very full.  It is the season of refreshing, perhaps before more trails.

’Dear U—–­ was with us again on Easter morn, a truly repentant young man, I verily believe, feeling deeply what in our country districts is often not counted a sin at all to be a foul offence against his Father and Saviour and Sanctifier.

’Six were there for their first Communion, among them honest old Stephen Taroniara, the first and only communicant of all the Solomon Isles—­of all the world west of Mota, or east of any of the Bishop of Labuan’s communicants.  Think of that!  What a blessing!  What a thought for praise and hope and meditation!

’I sit in my verandah in the moonlight and I do feel happy in spite of many thoughts of early days which may well make me feel unhappy.

’But I do feel an almost overpowering sensation of thankfulness and peace and calm tranquil happiness, which I know cannot last long.  It would not, I suppose, be good:  anyhow it will soon be broken by some trial which may show much of my present state to be a delusion.  Yet I like to tell you what I think, and I know you will keep it to yourselves.

’Good-bye, and all Easter blessings be with you.

’Your loving brother,

’J.  C. Patteson ’

The island voyage was coming near, and was to be conducted, on a larger scale, after the intermission of a whole year.  Mr. Brooke was to make some stay at Florida, Mr. Atkin at Wango in Bauro, and the Bishop himself was to take the party who were to commence the Christian village at Mota, while Mr. Codrington and Mr. Bice remained in charge of twenty-seven Melanesians.  The reports of the effects of the labour traffic were becoming a great anxiety, and not only the Fiji settlers, but those in Queensland were becoming concerned in it.

The ‘Southern Cross’ arrived in June, but the weather was so bad that, knocking about outside the rocks, she sustained some damage, and could not put her freight ashore for a week.  However, on the 24th she sailed, and put down Mr. Atkin at Wango, the village in Bauro where the Bishop had stayed two years previously.